The 8 Best Base Layers For Extreme Cold: The Ultimate Guide

Introduction

Of all the seasons bestowed upon us, winter is the most brutal. It doesn’t bring the beautiful blossoming flowers of spring, the countless BBQ parties of summer or the colorful leaves of fall.

Instead, this season is characterized by bone-chilling winds, frigid temperatures and flurries of snow.

It’s important to dress appropriately for this season, and that means one thing – layering your clothing! Now if you want to have the ultimate layering system, then you should start by focusing on the foundation or base layer.

A good base layer is able to keep you warm through insulation, wicks away moisture to keep you dry and has good breathability. In this article, we’ll look at the best base layer for the extreme cold.

Made entirely from merino wool, WoolX Glacier feels soft on the skin and boasts good breathability.

Moreover, this base layer offers a great deal of versatility. You can use it in a range of settings; from hiking to snowshoeing or casual wear.

There is just one area where WoolX Glacier Merino Wool Base Layer disappoints, and that is it lacks a tailored fit. This is not the end of the world, and it is a phenomenal base layer for extreme cold.

We all love how soft merino wool feels against our skin. But the durability of this material has always been a problem. Arc’teryx attempts to solve this issue by combining nylon and merino wool.

The core of Arc’teryx Satoro AR Zip-Neck is made of nylon and then infused with merino fabric. This way, you have a base layer with next-to-skin comfort of merino, but more durable than pure merino.

This company also placed more emphasis on a couple of features for the Satoro top. If you look closely, you will see that the cuffs are nicely-tailored and long enough so as to provide warmth over your hands.

We think this is a fantastic, stylish base layer that will keep you warm and last for a long time.

Consisting of 87% polyester and 13% spandex, this top has good heat-retention capability, good insulation, and maximum flexibility.

The blend of polyester and spandex enables this base layer to wick moisture quickly and provide optimal air circulation to keep you warm. These features make the Compression top ideal for any winter outdoor activity: hiking, snowboarding or running.

For many years, Indera Mills has been making thermal clothing that brings the winter season to its knees. Their Coldpruf brand is a good example of the quality of winterwear made by this textile company.

By considering all the important aspects of a base layer, this manufacturer has been able to create an athletic and fitting long sleeve base layer top that will keep you warm while in the extreme cold.

Essential Features To Look For When Purchasing Base Layers

Base Layer Materials

Merino Wool

Compared to synthetics, merino wool is a great choice of material for base layers for most people. It’s incredibly soft, resistant to odors and has temperature regulation capabilities.

Generally speaking, merino wool is quite pricey; it costs almost double the price of other options like polyester.

However, if you take care of your merino base layers, they will last for a long time, thus, saving you money in the long-run.

Polyester

If you’re looking for an economical base layer, your best bet is to go for clothing made of polyester. As we will see later, polyester base layers have a couple of benefits. They are very comfortable and can wick moisture.

The one area where polyester falls short is in odor prevention. Understandably, a lot of buyers care about the odor-resistance of different materials.

If this is an important factor, we recommend sticking to merino wool.

Also, polyester fabrics tend to not be fantastic when it comes to regulating temperature. Therefore, you should always consider your exact needs before moving forward with a base top.

Blends

Choosing between merino wool and polyester base layers is not easy. On one hand, you have an expensive material that can wick moisture really well.

On the other hand, you have a cheaper option that feels comfortable and is more durable than merino wool. Given the dilemma between the two options, many brands are choosing to use blends.

The idea behind using merino wool and polyester is to take advantage of the best attributes from both fabrics.

Base layers made of blends are the priciest. But for the higher price tag, you’ll be getting warm clothing that ticks all the boxes.

Breathability

The breathability of a base layer is determined by several factors. These include the quality of material, thickness, and openness of the weave.

Generally, merino wool is the most breathable. Still, there are a few high-quality synthetics that compare fairly well to merino wool.

So if you are buying base layers to wear when undertaking vigorous activities- such as skiing, hiking or winter hunting – it’s better to spend more on superior fabrics like merino or a blend.

Odor Prevention

As we mentioned earlier, merino wool has moisture-wicking capabilities. The fact that it pulls moisture from your body means there’s less accumulation of sweat, and subsequently, less odor.

If you’re planning a long hiking or camping trip and don’t want to carry too many layers of clothes, you should consider merino apparel. Such base layers will keep you dry and stink-free.

Durability

This is one of the few areas where merino doesn’t shine. Because it’s ultra-soft, it is more susceptible to developing tiny holes over time.

Ultimately, this jeopardizes the performance of the material. Contrary, synthetic base layers last quite long.

As an example, a standard lightweight merino base layer lasts for about two seasons, even by adhering to the strict washing and maintenance rules of merino.

Two seasons is indisputably a short lifespan. Synthetics, on the other hand, can last for four or more seasons.

To get the best of both worlds, some textile manufacturers are combining wool and synthetics. This boosts the strength of the base layer without compromising on comfort.

Warmth

If you’re buying a base layer for its warmth, merino wool is a good option. It’s able to trap heat between its fibers; hence, keeping you warm throughout.

Plus, it regulates temperature more efficiently than other options. This means that oftentimes merino layers are versatile enough to be worn in cold and hot weather.

Another fabric that is good at keeping you warm is silk- thanks to its thin profile. Unfortunately, silk does not have the best breathability.

Weight

How heavy a base layer weighs determines just how much warmth it provides. Oftentimes, the heavier the piece of clothing, the more warmth it provides. Here are three main base layer weights:

Lightweight

This is an ultra-thin base layer, which is often worn next to one’s skin.

It’s important that this base layer fits well so that it wicks away moisture while also helping to regulate temperature.

Midweight

With midweight, you can choose to wear it as a first or second layer. During spring and fall, you can wear them as outer layers.

During winter, they perform well as base layers. These base layers will provide maximum warmth while also remaining breathable enough for your physical activities.

Heavyweight

Often, this one is worn over a lightweight layer and it’s primarily worn for warmth. Unlike lightweight base layers, heavyweight is very thick- a factor that inhibits breathability.

If you wear this base layer, you’re likely to start sweating after minimal activity, such as going for a short walk. For this reason, you should only wear heavyweights in very cold conditions.

What Base Layer Material Should I Use?

Base layers are the first layer of clothing that you wear close to your skin before adding other clothes. They serve three main functions: they provide warmth, they breathe and wick away moisture.

In our opinion, most top-rated base layers are made of merino wool as it has all three attributes. Plus, it prevents odors from forming.

Nonetheless, there are other fabric options like polyester, silk, and blends. The good thing about these alternatives is that they tend to be cheaper than merino and last longer.

Conclusion

To determine what base layer works for you, consider the nature of activity you’ll be using it for, weather, and comfort.

If you have the means, you can buy merino wool base layers. But if comfort is your top priority, then silk or polyester-wool blend are better options.

Thank you for reading this article on the best base layer for extreme cold. We hope you have learned a lot and have enjoyed reading this guide.

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Affiliate Disclaimer

All Terrain Outdoors is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.